New Help for Overweight Pets

The Daily Vet Blog

Pet obesity is not a trivial concern. The list of health problems associated with the condition is long and ever growing. Overweight pets are at increased risk of

cruciate ligament ruptures

intervertebral disk disease

osteoarthritis

congestive heart failure

Cushing’s disease

dermatological disorders

infections

heat exhaustion and heat stroke

complications associated with anesthesia and surgery

hepatic lipidosis

some types of cancer

The cause of weight gain is usually simple: over a period of time a pet is eating more calories than he or she is burning off. Exercise can increase a pet’s lean body mass, which is a primary driver of an individual’s metabolic rate (muscle burns more calories than fat). Exercise should always be tailored to a pet’s physical fitness, disposition, and overall health, but activities to consider include:

Unfortunately, providing the amount of exercise needed to bring about significant and lasting weight loss is difficult for most pet owners. Dietary modifications to prevent overfeeding are almost always necessary. Picking a food and determining the correct amount to feed is often easier said than done, but an innovative new system called the Healthy Weight Protocol is now available to help veterinarians and pet owners do just that.

The University of Tennessee and Hill's Pet Nutrition collaborated to develop the protocol’s tools, allowing veterinarians to more accurately diagnose overweight pets and create a feeding and monitoring plan that is easy to follow.

The tools are quite different from what have been traditionally available. A veterinarian or technician measures six parts of a cat’s body (four for dogs), and the program uses the measurements and other data to calculate the pet’s body fat index and ideal weight. When measurements can’t be taken, a body fat index risk chart may be used instead.

In either case, the program then produces a detailed feeding plan and weight loss schedule based on which diet the veterinarian and owner feel are best for the pet. The system works with any combination of dry food, canned food, and treats.

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